Container



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. MEYER CONTAINER Filed Jan. 8. 1926 Feb. 14, 1928.

INVENTOR Z ATTORNEY 17 fldolph Meyer fla Feb. 14, 1928.

A. MEY ER CONTAINER Filed Jan. 8. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fldolph Meyer J Z I as Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

Anonrn arne, or woonnA-vnn, sons, rnoonro'narnn; or BRSGKLYN, NE

YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FBEDK ELFLEIH & W YORK, A CORPGRATIZON OFNEW YORK.

oonrnmnn.

Application filed' January 8, 1926. Serial No. 79,922.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in containers and s more especially directed to containers for food stufis and the like which are particularly adapted to the requirements of refrigerating apparatus, especially of those types in which the refrigerant is circulated by mechanically" or electrically actuated means.

While, as above stated, my invention is broadly directed to containers which are capable of a muitiplicityuof uses as will be evident from the present disclosure, for the purpose of presenting a clear and concise description of my invention, I have elected to describe itas used in conjunction with a refrigeration apparatus such as may be employed in confectioners andother shops for maintaining ice cream and similar frozen products at a proper temperature.

As is well known, it has heretofore been the practice to enclose the so-called' ice cream cans in a 'cabinetor the like, these cans being supported in various Ways. In some instances, the mouths of the cans Which usually remain uncovered within the scabinets, are not properly protected, resulting in spoilage of the'contents by the refrigerant splashing over the edges thereof. Also, the methods of supporting the ice cream cans have been such as to make it more or less diiiicult to handle them, when inserting them within the cabinet and withdrawing them therefrom, with that facility'which is desirable in the maintenance of those sanitary conditions-which are demandedby the public. r

Further, owing to the construction of existing types of cabinets and the methods employed for supporting or housing the food cans therein, the temperature losses are relatively high. This is largely due to the rapid fluctuations in the'cabinet temperature resulting from the necessityof frequent opening of the cabinet in the dispensing of the tially constant temperature ismaintained within the cabinet, efficient and economical operation cannot be obtained.

The general object of the present vinvencans and similar articles, which may .be economically produced,and.wh ch will overfood product. Obviously, unless a substan' tion is to provide a container for ice cream.

come theydisadvantagesof present structures in a simple and efiective manner.

p More specifically, itis an object of my invention to provide a container for the purposes aforesaid, whichis adapted to be used in conjunction with cabinets of 1 various types, and which embodies features of construction whereby the temperature losses re-,

sulting from the frequent opening and closing of the cabinets to obtain access to the stored material will be reduced to a minimum. i 7

It is a further object of my invention to provide a cabinet which is particularly advantageous for use in conjunction with my container, wherein a substantially constant temperature may be maintained more economically than is possible in existing types of cabinets in which frozen food stuffs and similar materials are stored.

My invention also, contemplates a structure wherein the container may be readily removed from the cabinet, if desired, for the purpose of making repairs or for clean- 111g, so as to preserve the highest sanitary conditions. 7

Briefly stated, my invention is directed to the provision of a container embodying a plurality of sleeves, each of whichis adapted to hold a can or the like, these sleeves being connected at or adjacent their upper ends or mouths by a support embodying insulating elements, the said sleeves being united or joined to said support in a manner whereby they are in effect integral therewith, the said support functioning as a cover or closure for the refrigeration chamber or interior of the cabinet when my container is in position therein.

Other obj ects' and advantages flowing from the practicing of my invention will present themselves as the description proceeds, and I would have it clearlyunderstood that I reserve, unto myself all rights to the full range of equipments, both in structure and in use, to which I may be entitled under my invention inits broadest aspect.

- In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a preferred embodiment of my inven tion as employed in a refrigerator for ice cream or the like, in which- Figure l is a view in perspective of a cabinet made in accordance with my invention, in which the container is enclosed.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a fragment of the structure shown in Figure 1, with the cover of the cabinet removed, the supporting element of the container being partly broken away to disclose its components.

Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of a portion of the cabinet shown in Figure 1, together with the container therein disposed. v

Figure l is an elevation of a section of the container and I 'Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the container structure.

rring new to the drawi-i in detail, in which lilte characters or reference are employed to designate similar parts throughout plurality or cylindrical sleeves 'l' open at one end, which are suspended from a member 8. The sleeves 7 may be drawn up from sheet metal as unitary structures, or the walls may be shaped as desired, and the bottoms 7 soldered or otherwir pern anently tastened thereto. Adjacent to the upper end or mouth of each container, 1 provide a pe ripheral bead or shoulder 9, the purposes o't which will be hereinafter described.

The member 8 which is preferably rectangular in outline, is composed of superposed sheets of metal and insulating material. any arrangement of these sheets or layers of material, which is suitable to the purpose for which the container is specifically de signed may be followed. However, in the present showing, the supporting member 8 comprises a sheet of metal 8 on which is superposed two sheets of rubberoitl or other insulating material, indicated at 9 and 10,- a sheet metal plate or blank 11 overlying the sheet of insulation 10. (See Figure The sheets or"- metal 8 and 11, with the interposed sheets of insulating material 9* and 10, are brought into registration and perforated or out out in any suitable manner to provide openings to receive the upper ends of the sleeves 7, the diameter of the aforesaid openings being suiiieient to permit or the location of the sleeves therein. When the'open ends of the sleeves 7 have been loated within the openings in the supporting member, just described, the body of the supporting member is pressed down so that the lowermost metal sheet 8 is in close con tact with the beads or shoul lers 9 upon the sleeves 7. The upper end of each sleeve is then spun or flanged over as shown at 12 into engagement with the upper surface of the topmost metal sheet 11, adjacent the aperture with which such sleeve is associated. lt will be observed that by the tormation of this flange 12, the components of ral views, the container embodies a the supporting member 8 are frictionallly held between the bead 9 and said flange, so that for all practical purposes, the sleeves and their supporting member function as a unitary structure.

The cabinet, as will be seen from Figure 3, comprises a base, sides and removable top, the base and sides being built up to provide an inner wall 13, and an outer wall 1%, with a filler of cork sheets or other suitable insulating material 15 therebetween. The or the cabinet is provided with a lining of sheet metal shown at 16, which may be of a tanklike construction, the upper edge being outwardly flanged at 16? for engagement with the horizontally dispose-d strips 1?, which are employed to close the space between the inn r and outer walls and 1s 0-; the cabinet.

The cover or the cabinet may be of any form desired, t in the present showing embodying tires dos, which are movable to afford access to the respective containers located in the cabinet as hereinafter set forth. [is will be noted, the hotly portion ot' the cover is removably supported on the b d blocks or strips 17 associated with the aforesaid strip 17 as clearly shown in Figure 3, the slides 19 being movable through the medium or the cooperating tongi'aes and grooves 19 and 20 respectively. A suitable r J '"iing strip 21 may be provided along the top of the rear edge of the cabinet to retain the spines in operating position.

As will be clearly seen from Figure 3 of the drawin when the container which may embody one or a plurality of sleeves is located within the cabinet, the bottoms of said sleeves will rest upon the inner wall of the base of the cabinet, the edges of the supporting member 8 bearing upon the top edge of the inner wall 13. lVhen the container is so disposed within the cabinet, suitable moul ling 22- is superposed upon the upp r artace or the supporting member 8 and fir-ted to the inner wall members 13 by means of nails, screws or other suitable securing mediums which pass through the components oil the supporting member, a watertight and substantially hermetic joint between the container and the cabinet being thus obtained.

lhe cabinet and the tank 16 contained therein, may be of any desired dimensions, the cabinet cover 18 bein provided with openings 23, closed by the aforesaid slides 19, positioned above each sleeve. While, if desired, the sleeves may be used as receptacles for food stuffs or the like, it is the practice to insert cans or the like therein, in which the ice cream or other material may be packed. To permit of the insertion of these cans, the cover 18 of the cabinet removed, it being apparent that when the cover is replaced, and in its normal position, the aforesaid openings 23 will be in ill) registration with the sleeves 7 and the mouths of the cans therein contained.

While I have described my 111VQ11t10I1 with reference to the specific showing herein, it.

is obvious that various changes in details and structure may be made without departing from theispirit or scope thereof; also, I would have it clearly understood that my invention is not limited in its application to the art of refrigeration, as the cabinet, and more especially the container, may be used for various purposes, all such uses being within the province of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a closure for the refrigerant chamber of a refrigerator, comprising a pair of oblong sheet metal'plates having insulating material interposed therebetween, said closure being providedwith a plurality, of spaced apertures, and a receptacle, open at one end and having an integral peripheralshoulder adjacent such end, associated with each of said apertures, the wall of each receptacle above its peripheral shoulder extending through the associated aperture and being flange downwardly into flat engagement with the surface of the top plate of said closure, whereby said receptacles and the members of said closure are rigidly interlocked by the cooperating slroulders and flanges of said receptacles. v

2. A combinationclosure and container unit for a refrigerator, embodying cylindrical receptacles open at one end and formed with integral peripheral beads adj acent such end, said receptacles being adapted to be located within the refrigerant chamber of a refrigerator and supported in an up right position on the base thereof, a pair of sheet metal plates having insulating material interposed therebetween and apertured to pass over the outer walls of said receptacles, whereby said plates will be supported by the beads of said receptacles, and integrally formed flanges at the open ends of said receptacles in engagement with the topmost of said plates, said beads and said flanges functioning to interlock said recepopen ends of structure, the plate assembly constituting a closure for the aforesaid refrigerant chamher. 7 v

3. A combinatlon closure and contanier unit for a refrigerator, comprising cylindrical receptacles open at one end and formed with an integral peripheral bead adjacent such end, said receptacles being adapted to be located within'the refrigerant chamber of a refrigerator, and a closure for said chamber, said closure embodying a pair of sheet metal plates, insulating material interposed therebetween, said plates and said material being apertured to pass over the open 7 ends of said receptacles to abut upon the beads thereof and flanges integral with the said receptacles in engagement with the uppermost of said plates, the said plates and insulating material being compressed between the cooperating flanges and beads of the respective receptacles whereby said closure and said receptacles are inter-V locked by the cooperating shoulders and 'ments of which are relatively immovable.

4:. A unit for a refrigerator, comprising a plurality of cylindrical sheet metal containers, each of said containers having an integral peripheral shoulder formed adjacent itsopen end, and means for permanently interconnecting and maintaining said containers in laterally spaced relation, said means forming a closure for the refrigerant chamber of a refrigerator and consisting of vertically spaced oblong sheets of metal, having sheet therebetween, the plates and the insulating material being apertured to pass over the walls of the respective spaced containers and abut upon the aforesaid shoulder thereof, that portion of the wall of each container projecting above the uppermost metallic plate being spun outwardly to form a flat ange in continuous engagement with said latter plate, the respective plates and the interposed insulating material being clamped between said outwardly spun flanges'and the tamers.

ADOLPH MEYER.

insulating material interposed supporting shoulders of the respective con- 7 

